We can now consider the year of Cebu Boxing to be done and proudly declare that it has been another productive and successful year. Cebu Boxing has produced three world champions and has once again proven to be the hotbed of the sport in the country.
Topping the year are our three world champions: WBO light flyweight champion Donnie Nietes, WBO minimumweight champion Merlito Sabillo and IBF light flyweight champion Johnriel Casimero. Nietes and Casimero champions defended and retained their respective titles in 2013, with Nietes seeking to equal and break Flash Elorde’s record as the Pinoy world champ with longest reign. Sabillo was the pleasant surprise of the year when he won his title in March; a fight he wasn’t expected to win on enemy territory. An irony for the year is that both Nietes and Sabillo nearly lost their titles as they were held to draws. Nietes escaped with a majority draw against Moises Fuentes while Sabillo was held to a split draw by Carlos Buitrago. Both draws came against opponents were the top rated contenders in their divisions and were thus mandatory challengers. On the other hand, Casimero scored two wins in the year, including a hometown championship fight, a first for him after campaigning abroad for his title fights. Nietes is to fight Fuentes in a rematch in the first quarter of 2014, while Sabillo doesn’t have to meet Buitrago until after nine months if Buitrago maintains his top/mandatory challenger status. There are talks that Casimero might move up to the flyweight (112 pounds) division, but for now, he’s enjoying the moment. The Ring Magazine ranks Nietes as the top light flyweight in the world with Casimero at #5. Sabillo is #8 in the magazine’s rankings for the minimumweight division. All three passed the 2013 report card with A+ marks and should hold on to the world titles if they keep progressing as boxers.
Working for their respective bids for a world title are Milan Melindo, Rocky Fuentes and Genesis Servania and Arthur Villanueva. Milendo had his chance to win a world title but bowed to WBO flyweight champion Juan Francisco Estrada, the same boxer who took away the crown from Brian Viloria. Milendo bounced back from the loss to score another win before the year was over and is back on track for a shot at the world title. Servania meanwhile, scored convincing wins but not before tasting the canvass. He has learned his lessons well and has improved on every fight. Getting knocked down has made him more circumspect and humble and should make him a smarter boxer. Fuentes is still the OPBF flyweight champion but fought only once in 2013. While he has been overshadowed by his more popular stablemates who are getting more TV time, he’s just as good as the others and can go places if given the breaks. In fact, he’s rated #3 by the World Boxing Council (WBC). Next up for him is a title eliminator fight in Puerto Rico. Down the line are a host of prospects who are buying time and developing themselves include the likes of the Pagara brothers Jason and Albert, the comebacking AJ Banal and the main event fighter for the Idol and Cobra events.
On top of just boxing per se, Cebu has raised the bar with boxing events management and promotions. ALA Promotions today has, not one, not two, but three different series of events that are rocking the country. At the top is Pinoy Pride, its bread and butter in partnership with TV giant ABS-CBN. The series has now reached a 23rd edition and has become a normal staple for Sunday morning TV. Ratings have shot up to outdo the competition, and the future looks even brighter with the plans of holding Pinoy Pride event in the United States in 2014. Nietes and Sabillo are the top products of this series with Melindo, Servania, Banal and Pagara becoming the show’s other top draws. Yes, you can call it a TV show. There were actually more runs before that were not yet called Pinoy Pride so this brings this number up so much higher. Then you have “Idol,†a brand new boxing series made for TV featuring the upcoming boxers out of Cebu. This is for those who don’t get TV exposure on Pinoy Pride, but who also deserve their own stage to grow. Also touring the country is the Cobra Tunay na Lakas series which has boxing cards being held from Luzon to Mindanao practically every month. Gone are the days when ALA lost his shirt and pocket each time he staged a boxing card. From having to dig deep in the past, ALA Promotions is now sitting pretty with juicy revenues, international tie-ups and a great future up ahead. It is easily the country’s premier boxing promotions outfit that can now rival the best out there.
That was Cebu Boxing in 2013. But I shouldn’t call it “Cebu Boxing.†Cebu Boxing is “Philippine Boxing,†isn’t it?
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Time-out: Let’s never slacken in praying for and helping the victims of Yolanda and Linog 7.2. >>> You can reach me at bleachertalk@yahoo.com.